The Quest to Complete a Piece of Baseball History
Former Milwaukee Brewers player Bob Burda is on a mission to complete a specific piece of baseball history by seeking the signature of Bud Selig on a football from the team's inaugural season. Burda, who was part of the original 1970 Brewers roster, has asked the former team owner and longtime Major League Baseball commissioner to add his autograph to the item.
The effort comes more than 50 years after the football was originally acquired. Burda stated that he knows Selig would appreciate seeing the memorabilia, noting that the football serves as a reminder of his career and the memories he made with the team during that foundational year.
To facilitate this reunion, Burda’s family reached out to ABC15 for assistance in tracking down Selig. The former commissioner currently resides in the Phoenix area. The family hopes that once the signature is secured, the memorabilia will eventually find a permanent home at the Brewers' Maryvale spring training facility in Phoenix.
Origins of the 1970 Football
The story of the football dates back to 1970, when the expansion Brewers attended a Green Bay Packers game. During that event, Burda's father caught a football in the stands. Following the game, the team signed the football, but former owner Bud Selig never added his signature to the item at that time.
Now, more than five decades later, the family is working to close that gap. The goal is to track down Selig to add his signature, thereby completing the historical record of the team's first season.
A Roster Filled with Future Legends
Burda’s time with the 1970 Brewers was notable not just for the team's expansion status, but for the caliber of players on the roster. He played alongside more than 20 future Hall of Famers, including legendary outfielder Willie Mays.
The roster also included Tito Francona. Francona’s son, Terry Francona, later managed the Boston Red Sox to two World Series championships, further cementing the family's connection to baseball history.
Burda, who also played for the Cardinals, Giants, and Red Sox during his professional career, views this football as a tangible link to those early days. The pursuit of Selig’s signature is seen by Burda and his family as a way to honor that legacy and ensure the item is fully documented.